The Evolution of the Communications and Marketing Department

1993 :: The first Unix server for E-mail communication is installed; messages are transferred to the IIRUC server in Bucharest through the UUCP (Unix to Unix Copy).

1994 :: A new Unix server using a SCO Unix system (Santa Cruz Operations) and an X Window system is installed. Messages are transferred to the Polytechnics in Bucharest through UUCP.

1995 :: The bases of the intranet of the Faculty of Engineering are set by means of an organized network which comprises all the computers in the new Centre of the Faculty on Zaharia Boiu Street (the laboratories of the Computer Science and Information Technology Department and in the offices of the Faculty are included). The SCO Unix server may be accessed via telnet and mail or X Window system clients. The first Linux and WWW servers are installed. In autumn, the Centre of Communication is founded with its headquarters in the building of the Faculty of Engineering.

1996 :: The WAN (Wide Area Network) backbone of the University is built through the cabling of a 500 metre thick coaxial cable section (“yellow cable”, Thick Ethernet), which connects the buildings of the Faculties of Engineering, Letters, the Rector’s and the Administration Offices. In December, the rented line between the Polytechnic University of Bucharest and the University of Sibiu is installed. Routing was enabled by a Linux server which offered dial-up access as well.

1997 :: In the autumn of this year, a second 400 metre yellow cable is installed, thus connecting the Administration offices and their headquarters on Ioan Ratiu Street (buildings A and B) of the Faculties of Science and the Faculty of Textile Technology and Foods. Thus, the designing of the university WAN network, and the connection to the latter, of all sub-networks and computers in the Faculty buildings, is accomplished. Each Faculty has its own local Linux server installed, separation from traffic being carried out through soft routers. The connection on rented line to the Transmission Military Institute, with synchronic modems at a rate of 64 kbps is set up. As the Central University Library lies next to the junction of military communication, the library local network is connected to the academy network (on a section of 180 metre coaxial cable and routing). Cisco and Bay Network routers are purchased for the administration of rented-line connections.

1998 :: The Communication Centre is moved to the General Administration office building, building A, the ground floor. In April, the computer laboratory of the Ground Forces Academy is connected on rented line at 64 kbps. On rented line as well, the computer laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, hosted by the Clinical City Hospital of Sibiu, section – Surgery 1, is connected to the university network. New Linux servers are installed at the Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science Departments. The intranet of the Faculty of Engineering (building IM) is designed and installed this year. This is the most up-to-date and the best-organized network which utilizes switching technologies, Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) and SNMP control.

1999 :: The university network is completed, by making the rented lines, which connect the networks of the Faculty of Technology and the Nursing Centre, available.

2000 :: New rented circuits are connected to the Faculty of Law and the University College, and the number of dial-up access lines increases. At the same time, the debit on the rented line, which connects the Centre to RoeduNet junction-point, is also increased to as much as 64 kbps on synchronic line.

2001 :: The debit of the connection to the internet is increased to 128 K. 5 down link via satellite systems are installed, thus considerably increasing the download rate of internet data.

2002 :: In the County of Sibiu, the Centre becomes known as Pop (Point of Presence) RoEduNet. The data channel is paid by RoEduNet, functioning at a data transmission rate of 256 kbps. The Communication Centre is moved from the ground floor of the General Administration Office to the attic of the same building, its present-day location.

2003 :: The internet connection increased from 256 kbps to 2 Mbps, through optical fibre. Through this device, the university backbone was cabled again. All the locations that had been previously linked through synchronic or non-synchronic modems use now the optical fibre. Thus, the network reaches a rate of 100 Mbps. The central junction at the Communication Centre was cabled again. Most of the servers administered by the Communication Centre were upgraded and new servers dedicated by DNS, MAIL, PROXY, and FIREWALL were created. All users of the Communication Centre shared a common database. Steps were taken with regard to increasing security on all servers; new databases were created on each server, sharing information with all the computers connected to the network. To access the ULBS network, the newly connected computers had to be previously registered in the databases. The ULBS site is being reorganized, and a News Server, as well as a discussion forum to be added. E-mail services with the rate of a 24 hour answer guaranteed were created for internal and external users.

2004 :: A new web interface of “Lucian Blaga” University was initiated, with the purpose of integrating a new e-mail system, forum, guest book, ticketing system, as well as a quite useful interface for the publication of LBUS news and events. Starting with April, the internet connection through RoEduNet was upgraded to 4 Mbps (thus doubling the previous rate). A band guarantee system for the LBUS intranet was implemented with the purpose of a more efficient internet connection. As part of the Communication Centre, the Cisco Academy was founded. The first wireless access points are installed in the building hosting the Rector’s Office and at the Faculty of Sciences.